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Rays-Angels Preview

David Price may need to be dominant again for the Tampa Bay Rays since the Los Angeles Angels' recent success has been spurred by strong pitching efforts of their own.

With the Rays' offense scuffling, Price will try to build on his best performance of the season in order to help them salvage a split of this four-game set with the Angels on Sunday.

Price (4-3, 4.02 ERA), a three-time All-Star and 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner, is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in four road starts compared to 2-2 with a 5.01 ERA in five at home.

The left-hander's record as the visitor might be even better if not for being backed by just 2.67 runs per game. However, Price didn't need much in his latest outing Tuesday, tossing a six-hitter while matching his season high with 12 strikeouts in a 2-1 win at Seattle.

"David dominated it. Really, we don't win it without him pitching," manager Joe Maddon said. "His focus was outstanding. The way he handled every moment - when there was a little trouble, he didn't lose his tempo or his rhythm.

"He just stayed there and made pitches when he needed to."

Price, third in the AL with 70 strikeouts, may need a similar effort since the Rays are batting .188 over the past five games after being five-hit by C.J. Wilson in Saturday's 6-0 defeat.

Price, though, was hammered for six runs and 11 hits in seven innings of a 6-2 defeat at Anaheim on Sept. 5. He had won his three previous visits while allowing one run in 23 innings, and he's held Albert Pujols hitless in seven at-bats.

The Angels (23-19) have won seven of nine games behind a 2.73 ERA from their rotation, a dramatic improvement after the starters compiled a 4.45 ERA over the previous 11 contests.

They may be hoping Matt Shoemaker (1-1, 3.86) can draw some inspiration from Wilson, as he faces the Rays for the first time. He's also getting another chance to state his case for a regular spot in the rotation.

The rookie right-hander got the nod ahead of an ineffective Hector Santiago on Tuesday, and he allowed two runs and three hits in five innings of a 4-3 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday in his first start of the season.

Shoemaker's three previous outings came in relief, and he allowed three runs and two homers in 6 2-3 innings in April before being demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake.

"Grab hold of it and run with it," he told the team's official website of his hopes of becoming a regular starter for the Angels.

Shoemaker has allowed one run with nine strikeouts in 9 1-3 innings over three career home games - one start.

He'll try to continue stifling Evan Longoria, who is hitting .207 on the road compared to .347 at home. The third baseman is also 3 for 18 with one RBI heading into the finale of this seven-game trip.

David DeJesus is 0 for 9 in three games after batting .441 over the previous seven.

The Angels are getting production from Grant Green, who is hitting .324 in 12 games since being recalled from Salt Lake earlier this month. His two-run shot Saturday was his first homer of the season.